National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Chicago 77, Philadelphia 69
When: 9:30 PM ET, Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #41 Ken Mauer, #40 Leon Wood
Attendance: 22093

BULLS 77, 76ERS 69: Luol Deng came alive with 24 points and eight rebounds and host Chicago turned in a strong defensive effort to stave off elimination for at least one more game.

Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Bulls, who trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven. They will try to even it up at Philadelphia on Thursday.

Chicago was again playing without Derrick Rose (knee) and Joakim Noah (ankle) but had Deng step up in Game 5. After averaging just eight points over the past three games, Deng shot 10 for 19 from the field in Game 5, including 4 for 5 from beyond the arc.

The Bulls held the eighth-seeded 76ers to 32 percent shooting, including 28.6 percent in the first half as they built a 35-26 lead at the break.

In losing the last three games, Chicago could not find anyone to step up offensively in the fourth quarter with Rose out. Deng filled that role on Tuesday, hitting 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions early in the period as Philadelphia threatened to get back into the game.

His 3-pointer with 1:31 left put the game away.

The defense took care of the rest, holding the 76ers' backcourt tandem of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner to a combined 7 for 24 from the field. Deng got the better of his counterpart Andre Iguodala, limiting the All-Star to 4 for 19 shooting.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago is trying to avoid becoming the fifth No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs. … Philadelphia’s 26 first-half points set a franchise playoff low. … Bulls F Taj Gibson left in the third quarter with an ankle injury but returned midway through the fourth.
Top Game Performances
 
Philadelphia   Chicago
Jrue Holiday 16 Scoring Luol Deng 24
Jrue Holiday 4 Assists C.J. Watson 7
Spencer Hawes 14 Rebounds Carlos Boozer 13
Jrue Holiday 5 Free Throws Made Taj Gibson 2
Jrue Holiday 3 Steals Ronnie Brewer 3
Elton Brand 3 Blocks Taj Gibson 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Philadelphia 69 32.1 2-11 17-24 14 49 11 7 14
Chicago 77 41.5 5-10 4-11 22 49 11 8 15
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Bulls have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Philadelphia will play their next game at home against Chicago. The 76ers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.